Looking for Adhesives and Identifying Binders in the Book of the Dead Using FTIR

Combined, the information from these scans provide data which is viewed in the form of spectra, with many bands that represent chemical bonding between two particular atoms or a group of atoms in a molecule. The spectrum will be compared to a set of known reference materials for identification and interpretation.

We think it is possible that the ancient Egyptians used an adhesive to join the individual sheets to form a roll.  If they did, it is likely that they used a protein-based adhesive such as animal glue, or a starch-based adhesive such as wheat starch paste.  It is also possible that no adhesive was used, and that moisture was used in the same way that it was used to join the strips to form a sheet (see previous blog entries on making papyrus).  In the latter case, moisture would be used along with extreme pressure to form a physical bond to join the sheets.  We also think that the binders used with the pigments on this scroll could likely be gum arabic or animal glue. We are still awaiting results for our analysis.

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This post is part of a series by Conservators and Curators on papyrus and in particular the Book of the Dead of the Goldworker of Amun, Sebekmose, a 24 foot long papyrus in the Brooklyn Museum’s collection. This unique papyrus currently in 8 large sections has never been exhibited due to condition. Thanks to a generous grant from the Leon Levy Foundation, the entire papyrus is now undergoing conservation treatment. The conservation work is expected to last until fall 2011 when all 8 sections will be exhibited together for the first time in the Mummy Chamber. As each section is conserved, it will join those already on exhibition until eventually the public will see the Book of the Dead in its entirety.

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